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How to Change Boot Drive Windows 10?

Are you struggling to find out how to change the boot drive in Windows 10? Don’t worry, you’re not alone. Changing the boot drive in Windows 10 can be a tricky and confusing process, especially when you don’t have any prior experience. That’s why we’ve created this comprehensive guide to help you understand the process step-by-step and get you up and running in no time. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the steps needed to change the boot drive in Windows 10, explain what each step does, and provide helpful tips and advice to ensure successful completion. So, if you’re ready to get started, let’s jump right in!

How to Change Boot Drive Windows 10?

Overview of Changing Boot Drive on Windows 10

Windows 10 is the latest version of Microsoft’s operating system. It has some significant improvements over the previous versions of Windows and one of those is the ability to change the boot drive. This can help you move your operating system to another drive, allowing you to free up space on your main drive. In this article, we will be looking at how to change the boot drive in Windows 10.

Steps to Changing Boot Drive on Windows 10

The first step to changing the boot drive in Windows 10 is to open the Settings app. You can do this by clicking on the Start button and then selecting the cog icon. Once you are in the Settings app, select the Update & Security option.

From there, select the Recovery option from the left-hand menu. Under the Advanced Startup section, click on the Restart Now button. This will cause Windows 10 to restart and you will see a boot menu appear. From this menu, select the Troubleshoot option.

Using the Advanced Options to Change Boot Drive

Once you have selected the Troubleshoot option, you will be given a list of advanced options. From this list, select the command prompt option. This will open a command prompt window. In this window, type in the following command:

“bcdboot :\windows”

Replace “” with the letter of the drive that you want to boot from. This will change the boot drive to the specified drive. Once you have done this, type in “exit” and hit Enter. This will close the command prompt window.

Booting Into the New Drive

Once you have changed the boot drive, you will need to boot into it. To do this, restart your computer and select the new drive from the boot menu. Once you have selected it and your computer has booted, you should see the new drive as the active boot drive.

Checking the New Boot Drive

Once you have changed the boot drive, it is important to check that the new drive is functioning properly. To do this, open the Settings app and select the System option. From the left-hand menu, select the About option. From here, you should see the name of the drive that your operating system is installed on.

Updating the Boot Configuration Data

Once you have changed the boot drive, it is important to update the boot configuration data. To do this, open the command prompt window again and type in the following command:

“bcdedit /enum all”

This will show you the boot configuration data. Check that the new drive is listed and that it is set as the default boot drive. If it is not, you can use the command “bcdedit /set {default} device partition=”, replacing “” with the letter of the new drive.

Conclusion

Changing the boot drive in Windows 10 is a simple process and can be done in a few steps. It is important to check that the new drive is working properly and to update the boot configuration data to make sure that your computer is booting from the correct drive. Once you have done this, you should be able to free up some space on your main drive and have your operating system running on the new drive.

Few Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Boot Drive?

A boot drive is the storage device, such as a hard drive or solid-state drive, where the operating system is installed. When a computer is started, the boot drive is accessed to load the operating system.

How to Change Boot Drive Windows 10?

To change the boot drive on Windows 10, you must first access the BIOS or UEFI on your computer. To do this, restart the computer and press a key such as F2, F12, or Esc to access the boot menu. Once in the BIOS or UEFI, use the arrow keys to navigate to the Boot tab. From here, you can select the boot drive you want to use, usually listed as “Primary Hard Drive” or something similar. Once you’ve selected the boot drive, press the F10 key to save and exit. Your computer will now boot from the new drive.

What is BIOS or UEFI?

BIOS (Basic Input/Output System) and UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface) are types of firmware that control the startup process on a computer. BIOS is the older of the two, with UEFI being the more modern version. The BIOS or UEFI can be accessed by pressing a key such as F2, F12, or Esc during the startup process.

Can I Change the Boot Order in Windows?

No, you cannot change the boot order in Windows. The boot order must be changed in the BIOS or UEFI, usually accessed by pressing a key such as F2, F12, or Esc during the startup process.

What is the Difference Between BIOS and UEFI?

The main difference between BIOS and UEFI is that BIOS is an older type of firmware that is no longer used on modern computers. UEFI is the newer version, and it provides more features and better security than BIOS.

What is the Difference Between a Boot Drive and a Data Drive?

A boot drive is the storage device, such as a hard drive or solid-state drive, where the operating system is installed. A data drive is any other storage device that is used to store data such as music, videos, documents, and applications. A data drive does not contain the operating system and is not used during the startup process.

How To Change Boot Order In Computer BIOS

Changing the boot drive in Windows 10 can be a little intimidating, but with a few simple steps you can make the transition quickly and easily. With this guide, you should now be able to change the boot drive of your computer to whatever drive you choose, whether it’s an SD card, a USB drive, or a different hard drive. You can also use the steps outlined to restore the boot drive to its original configuration if the need arises. With these easy steps, you should now have the confidence to make the changes you need to your Windows 10 boot drive so you can continue using your computer without any problems.